Amazon began as an online bookseller in 1995 operating out of Jeff Bezos' garage. It has since expanded globally and diversified its product offerings. Amazon utilizes a massive technology infrastructure running on Linux to power its e-commerce operations. This includes large Oracle databases and HP servers. Amazon aims to be the most customer-centric company by offering tools, marketing, and a sense of community to help people discover and buy products online through its own warehouses and third-party sellers. Over the past two decades, Amazon has launched numerous international and specialty websites while acquiring companies to grow its business and services.

1. SW HOMEWORK WEEK13
s1200001 Shunya Abe

2. Introduction
• In 1995, Amazon.com sold its first book,
which shipped from Jeff Bezos' garage in
Seattle. In 2006, Amazon.com sells a lot
more than books and has sites serving
seven countries, with 21 fulfillment centers
around the globe totaling more than 9
million square feet of warehouse space.

3. Amazon Technology
• The massive technology core that keeps
Amazon running is entirely Linux-based.
As of 2005, Amazon has the world's three
largest Linux databases, with a total
capacity of 7.8 terabytes (TB), 18.5 TB
and 24.7 TB respectively. The central
Amazon data warehouse is made up of
28 Hewlett Packard servers, with four
CPUs per node, running Oracle 9i
database software.

4. Amazon E-commerce
• Amazon.com has always sold goods out of
its own warehouses. It started as a
bookseller, pure and simple, and over the
last decade has branched out into
additional product areas and the third-
party sales that now represent a good
chunk of its revenue.

5. Amazon Tools, Marketing and
Community
• The goal is pretty straightforward: "To be
Earth's most customer-centric company where
people can find and discover anything they
want to buy online." The implementation is
complex, massive and dynamic. Amazon's
marketing structure is a lesson in cost-
efficiency and brilliant self-promotion.

6. Amazon.com: Timeline and History.
• 1994: Amazon.com is incorporated.
• 1995: It sells its first book.
• 1996: It launches its affiliate program ("Associates Program").
• 1997: It goes public.
• 1998: It buys the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) and opens two new Amazon stores: Music
and DVD/Video.
• 1999: It launches Amazon Auctions and zShops and opens six new stores: Consumer
Electronics, Toys & Games, Home Improvement, Software, Video Games and Gift Ideas.
• 2000: It launches Amazon France, Amazon Japan and Amazon Marketplace and opens two
new stores: Kitchen and Camera & Photo.
• 2001: It introduces the "Look Inside the Book" function and teams up with Target stores.
• 2002: It launches Amazon Canada and Amazon Web Services and opens two new stores:
Office Products and Apparel & Accessories.
• 2003: It launches Amazon Services and A9.com subsidiaries and opens three news stores:
Sports & Outdoor, Gourmet Food and Health & Personal Care.
• 2004: It buys Joyo.com (which becomes Amazon China) and opens one new store: Beauty.
• 2005: It buys BookSurge LLC.